Miss Universe Jamaica 2026 Current titleholder Celene Hall (2026) Crowned 23 August 2026, Kingston Predecessor Gabrielle Henry (2025) Successor TBD (2027) Affiliation Miss Universe Broadcaster Television Jamaica (TVJ) Title sponsor Hyundai Jamaica Highest placement 1st Runner-Up – Yendi Phillipps (2010)
Miss Universe Jamaica (formerly Miss Jamaica Universe) is a beauty pageant that selects the contestant to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe competition.
History Although Jamaica started competing at the Miss Universe Pageant in 1961, the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant officially started in 1982 and was organised by Ed Wallace to select the official representative. This was won by Nancy Martin who was slated to compete at the Miss Universe pageant, but was unable to do so. The contest was again held from 1986 to 1988, and in 1989 Pulse was asked to host the Jamaica preliminary to Miss Universe. They went on to post an outstanding record, producing 4 top 10 finalists (Sandra Foster, Kimberley Mais, Nicole Haughton and Christine Straw) at the international Pageant. The pageant was then promoted by Invyte Promotions (2010–2011), hotelier Dimitris Kosvogiannis (2012).
2013–present
Uzuri International assumed the Miss Universe Jamaica franchise in 2013, acquiring the licence from Dimitris Kosvogiannis shortly before the March 2013 staging of the national competition. Uzuri International was founded in 1998 by Karl Williams and Mark McDermoth, who had designed for the Miss Jamaica World and Miss Universe Jamaica pageants since its inception. Prior to acquiring the franchise, the company had established an international profile: in 2008 Williams and McDermoth designed the opening number gowns for all 112 contestants at the Miss World pageant in Johannesburg. The franchise is operated through Atelier Dermoth Williams Limited, the formal management company identified in 2026 reporting as the official Miss Universe brand administrator in Jamaica.
The organization has sent several of Jamaica's most successful Miss Universe representatives, including Kaci Fennell (2014, 4th runner-up), Davina Bennett (2017, 2nd runner-up), Miqueal-Symone Williams (2020, Top 10), and Jordanne Levy (2023, Top 20).
Format
The pageant is broadcast nationally by Television Jamaica and has been title-sponsored by Hyundai Jamaica in recent editions. Contestants compete in swimwear, evening gown, and interview segments, with sectional awards including personality, media challenge, and altruism categories.
2026 changes
In March 2026, Atelier Dermoth Williams Limited announced a shift from a regional to a parish-level preliminary model for the 2026 edition. Thirteen parish titleholders will qualify automatically for the national finals, scheduled for 23 August 2026 at AC Hotel Kingston, with additional places available through eliminations on 5 July 2026. Parish directors were appointed for each competition area.
Notable titleholders
Yendi Phillipps (2010)
Yendi Phillipps was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2010 under Invyte Promotions and placed first runner-up at Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jamaica's highest international placement.
Kaci Fennell (2014)
Kaci Fennell represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 2014 in Doral, Florida, placing fourth runner-up. Her natural hair presentation attracted significant international media coverage during the competition.
Davina Bennett (2017)
Davina Bennett represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 2017 in Las Vegas, placing second runner-up, Jamaica's second-highest international finish.
Gabrielle Henry (2025)
Dr. Gabrielle Henry was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 on 9 August 2025 at the AC Hotel Kingston. An ophthalmology resident at the University Hospital of the West Indies and founder of the See Me Foundation, she won four sectional awards alongside the overall title.
Henry represented Jamaica at the 74th Miss Universe in Nonthaburi, Thailand. On 19 November 2025, during the preliminary evening gown round at the Impact Challenger Hall, she fell through an unguarded opening in the stage floor and was hospitalised in intensive care in Bangkok. On 8 December 2025, the Miss Universe Organization and the Henry family issued a joint statement confirming she had sustained an intracranial haemorrhage, a fracture, a collapsed lung, and facial lacerations, and that the Organization had assumed full and immediate responsibility for the incident. The statement confirmed the Organization had never attributed blame to Henry. She was repatriated to Jamaica in December 2025 under medical escort and remained under outpatient supervision as of March 2026, unable to return to her residency.
Titleholders
The Miss Universe Jamaica organization is responsible for sending representatives to Miss Universe. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.
Year Parish Miss Universe Jamaica Placement at Miss Universe Special Award(s) Notes 2026 Portland Celene Hall TBA 2025 Kingston Gabrielle Henry Withdrew (injury) Fell through unmarked stage opening during preliminaries, 19 November 2025; hospitalised in Bangkok ICU. Miss Universe Organization assumed full responsibility. 2024 Saint Mary Rachel Silvera Unplaced 2023 Kingston Jordanne Levy Top 20 2022 Saint Thomas Toshami Calvin Unplaced 2021 Saint Elizabeth Daena Soares Unplaced 2020 Saint Andrew Miqueal-Symone Williams Top 10 2019 Saint James Iana Tickle Garcia Unplaced 2018 Kingston Emily Maddison Top 20 2017 Clarendon Davina Bennett 2nd Runner-up 2016 Saint James Isabel Dalley Unplaced 2015 Kingston Sharlene Rädlein Unplaced 2014 Kingston Kaci Fennell 4th Runner-up 2013 Kingston Kerrie BaylisMiss Universe 2013 Candidate Unplaced Karl Williams & Mark McDermoth (Uzuri International) directorship. 2012 Portland Chantal ZakyChantal Zaky is Miss Jamaica Universe 2012 Unplaced Dimitris Kosvogiannis directorship.Miss Jamaica Universe 2011 Kingston Shakira Martin † Unplaced 2010 Kingston Yendi Phillipps 1st Runner-up Invyte Promotions directorship.Miss Jamaica Universe 2009 Saint James Carolyn YappNew Miss Jamaica Universe Unplaced 2008 Kingston April Jackson Unplaced 2007 Kingston Zahra Redwood Unplaced 2006 Kingston Cindy Wright Unplaced 2005 Kingston Raquel Wright Unplaced 2004 Kingston Christine Straw Top 10 2003 Saint James Michelle Lecky Unplaced 2002 Kingston Sanya Hughes Unplaced 2001 Kingston Zahra Burton Unplaced 2000 Clarendon Saphire Longmore Unplaced 1999 Kingston Nicole Haughton Top 10 1998 Kingston Shani McGraham Unplaced 1997 Saint Catherine Nadine Thomas Unplaced 1996 Kingston Trudi-Ann Ferguson Unplaced 1995 Kingston Justine Willoughby Unplaced 1994 Saint James Angelie Martin Unplaced 1993 Kingston Rachel Stuart Unplaced 1992 Kingston Bridgette Rhoden Unplaced 1991 Kingston Kimberley Mais Top 6 (4th Place) 1990 Kingston Michele Hall UnplacedMiss Jamaica Universe 1989 Kingston Sandra Foster Top 10Kingsley Cooper (Pulse Org.) directorship. 1988 Kingston Leota Suah Unplaced 1987 Kingston Janice Sewell Unplaced 1986 Kingston Liliana Cisneros UnplacedRonald Waite (Monocot Television Network) colspan=6 1982 Kingston Nancy Martin Did not compete Miss Jamaica Universe org. – Ed Wallace directorship. Miss Jamaica colspan=6 1976 Kingston Angela Ruddock colspan=3 1975 Kingston Gillian Louise Annette King Unplaced 1974 Kingston Lennox Anne Black Unplaced 1973 Saint James Rita Faye Chambers Unplaced 1972 Kingston Grace Marilyn Wright Unplaced 1971 Clarendon Suzette Marilyn Wright Unplaced 1970 Kingston Sheila Lorna Neil Unplaced 1969 Kingston Carol Gerrow Unplaced 1968 Kingston Marjorie Bromfield Unplaced 1967 Kingston Elham Warwar colspan=2 During rehearsals, Miss Jamaica, Elham Warwar was informed she had to leave the pageant because neither she nor her national sponsor had shown proof she had won a national competition, which was in the pageant rules. 1966 Kingston Beverly Savory Unplaced 1965 Kingston Virginia Hope Redpath Unplaced 1964 Kingston Beverly Elaine Rerrie Unplaced 1963 Kingston June Maxime Bowman Unplaced 1962 Kingston Marlene Murray colspan=2 The First Miss Jamaica 1962 in the year that Jamaica got its Independence, she was not a Jamaica Festival Queen but the first Miss Jamaica Independence Queen. 1961 Kingston Marguerite LeWars Unplaced Miss Jamaica org. – Ken Rhino directorship.
See also Miss Jamaica World Miss Earth Jamaica Miss Grand Jamaica
References
External links Official website Official website Uzuri International Organization Joint Statement: Miss Universe Organization and the Family of Dr. Gabrielle Henry (8 December 2025)